Oil clarifier



Jan. 4, 1944. G. H. AMsDEN 2,338,158

OIL CLARIFIER l Filed Feb. 24, 1941 y 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG- 1- F|G. 2.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

,MJ/KW( Jan. 4, 1944. -A IG, H. AMSDEN I 2,338,158

OIL- CLARIFIER Filed Feb, 24, 1941 2 'Sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

EEDFEE H. Ams, den

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 4, 1944 lJNiTD STATES 2,338,158 QIL CJLARIFIER.

George H. Amsden, Farmington, N. Mex.

application February 24, 194,1, Serial No. 380,333

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for clarifying 1iquids such as lubricating oil, cooking oil, cleaning solvents, gasoline, etc.

The primary object of this invention is the provision oi an improved means for reclaiming engine lubricating oils and the like in an eilicient, economical and expeditious manner.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved process for clarifying lubricating oils and the like.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved oil reclaiming apparatus.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the improved oil reclaimer; taken substantially on the line 2,-2 of Figure l'.

Figure 2a is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken at the juncture of the top and bottom container portions of the improved apparatus. I

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the improved apparatus. l

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lower receptacle of the improved apparatus, showing the oil screening arrangement.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the screen used for the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a plan View of a gasket associated with the device.

Figure '7 is a plan View of the lower bulk head of the apparatus.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved oil reclaiming mechanism. It may include upper and lower receptacle portions B and C and a filtering and screening assemblage D located therebetween.

The upper container portion B includes a main body lli of preferably cylindrical formation having a lower inturned flange ii extending convergently downward and adapted to socket within the lid portion l2 of the bottom receptacle C, as shown in Figures 2 and 2a. Otherwise the entire bottom of the upper container B is open so that the oil to be reclaimed may have access to the lter and screening arrangement D.

The upper margin of the container body IB is provided with relatively spaced lugs I la adapted t0 cooperate with the interrupted lug sockets I2a provided upon the rolled outer edge of the lid I3 of the upper container B in a manner which is perfectly apparent from Figures l and 2 of the drawings, so as to secure attachment or detachment of the lid with respect to the container.

The lid i3 is imperforate. It is provided with an air pressure gauge I4 of approved type, and furthermore it has a screw threaded man hole entrance l5 and a screw threaded cap I6 therefor. The cap i6 preferably supports an air valve Il to which a suitable pump may be connected for pumping air into the container B.

The lower container C is of construction similar to the container B, including a cylindrical shaped body portion 2li having a bottom wall 2in, connected therewith. The lid l2 of the bottom container C is provided with supporting lugs` 2| which rest upon the roll top 22 of the body 20,

so that the 1rd a2 may be lifted with facility from the container body 2G.

Referring to the filtering and screening ar.- rangement D, the lid i12 is provided with openings t, preferably fg of an inch in diameter in an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig-v ure 4 of the drawings, Other openings 3l, very close to the marginal portion of the lid l2 are provided at a location which lies outwardly beyond the extreme bottom edge 32 of the flange U .of the Lipper receptacle, as shown in Figure 2a of the drawings.

A screen d, of any desired mesh, is bolted as at 4l in a number of places upon the cover portion of the lid l2; the diameter of the screen di) being such that its marginal edge terminates approximately fn, of an inch from the margin of the lid I2, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. i

Filter clot-h or paper 45 is disposed upon the top of the screen it and extends to the extreme edge of the lid, that is, to the rolled supporting portion 2l. A gasket il, of ring shaped formation, rests upon the outermost marginal portion of the filter cloth or screen, beyond the outer circumferential edge of the screen Ml, and

gether the receptacles B and C, together with the filtering and screening arrangement D, in proper leakproof relation. 'I'his means includes an upper bulk head 5l) adapted to rest upon the top lid I3, and a lower bull: head 5| adapted to engage against the bottom 2id of the lower receptacle C. Each of these bulk heads is provided with a central enlarged portion adapted to socket respectively in the upper and lower ends of the receptacles B and C and a reduced outwardly extending flange portion designated at 52. The corners of the flange portions 52 have suitable openings 53. These openings are adapted to receive clamping and connecting rods 54, in the arrangement shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the rods 54 each have lower headed ends 55 and upper nuts 56 threaded on the upper ends thereof. Adjustment of the nuts 56 clamp the bulk heads upon the receptacles. Of course, this clamping effect forces the edge 32 of the flange Il against the gasket il and seals the connection of the upper and lower receptacles.

rlhe lower receptacle C is provided with a screw threaded plug {it} provided with a pet cock Gl therein. A gauge rod G2 is detachably eX- tended at 63 thru an upper opening in the receptacle C and can be readily removed from the container in order to determine to what eX- tent the reclaimed oii has dropped into the lower receptacle C.

It is to be noted that the upper bulk head 5B is provided with suitable cutouts to receive the gauge i4 and the man hole cover and valve, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Referrinrrr to the improved method of reclaiming oil or like fluids, attention is called to the fact that the upper' and lower receptacles B and C are preferably of the same volumetric capacity, that is, five gallons. The oil to be reclaimed is first thoroughly mixed with fullers earth, preferably the kind presently sold under the name Retrol. Four pounds of such earth is preferably admixed with five gallons of oil to be reclaimed. It is noted in this connection that the fullers earth is not deposited in the upper receptacle B and the oil poured thereon. These ingredients are first mixed together so that the earth is intimately dispersed throughout the oil body. In actual practice, after the admixed oil and earth are poured into the receptacle B, it will take about twenty-four hours for the earth to settle by gravity from the oil onto the screening arrangement. Retrol contains certain adsorptive clays which have the property of absorbing or filtering out carbon, neutralizing acidic compounds, coagulating saponiable compounds and restoring a desirable color to a used oil. Thus, the acid content of the oil is reduced, which is known in the art as improving the acid number of the oil, or improving the neutralization number of the oil. In this respect Retrol is more efficient than ordinary earth and three or four times as effective. This is a distinct advantage in that the cake formed by the earth, after it has settled, is of less thickness than when raw fullers earth is used, so that the reclaiming filtering operation may proceed as rapidly as possible.

The layer of earth after settlement occupies about the same relative position shown at 10 in Figure 2 of the drawings. The filter press cake formed by the earth after settlement can readily be removed. It is noted that the earth only settles into cake form after the particles of the earth have become thoroughly saturated with oil.

After the admixed granular Retrol and oil to be reclaimed are thoroughly mixed, they are deposited in the upper receptacle B, either through the man hole opening l5 or by removing the top lid .structure of the container B. Thereafter, the entire device is assembled and air is introduced thru the valve il into the compartment of the container B above the body of oil therein. The pressure is elevated to about two pounds superatmospheric; just sufficient to enhance the filter action.

The nlter earth may be reused, although I prefer to use fresh earth for each new reclaiming operation.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claim.

I claim:

In an oil reclaiming device, the combination of upper and lower receptacle portions having compartments therein, the upper receptacle portion resting upon the lower receptacle portion and having an inturned lower flange extending inwardly over the compartment of the lower receptacle portion and otherwise being entirely open at the lower end thereof, a cover for the lower receptacle portion having perforations therein, some of which lie inside of the marginal edge of the inturned flange of the upper receptacle, and other perforations therein lying outside of the marginal edge of the inturned flange of the upper receptacle, screening and iltering means upon said cover of the lower receptacle portion, a ring-shaped gasket supported by the cover portion of the lower receptacle portion and in position to be engaged by the inturned flange of the upper receptacle portion, and means for clamping said receptacle portions together in the relation specified.

GEORGE H. AMSDEN. 

